Agency Pushes For Downtown Management District

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Downtown Lexington Corporation is hoping to generate interest in a public-private partnership model that has helped hundreds of other communities across the country improve their downtown areas. The organization has launched a petition to create what’s called a “downtown management district.”

The agreement would work like a suburban homeowner’s association, where property owners would pay an annual assessment to bolster the services provided by the city. Among the possibilities: streetscape improvements, increased marketing opportunities, and the hiring of ambassadors to help visitors and improve safety.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that the district, if OKed by property owners and the Urban County Council, would include 373 properties with 223 owners. Louisville adopted a similar plan in 1991, Knoxville followed suit in 1993, and Cincinnati organized its downtown management district in 1997.